How about a Liberty Square expansion?

[MinnieM123]

Bring Back Aunt Polly's and restore the wonders of Mark Twain and Huck Finn on Tom Sawyer Island. Those places bring back such classic memories.

That area is classic Disney to me—wonderful theming. You really feel like you've stepped back in time when you're on Tom Sawyer Island. It's also a bit of a respite from the rest of the crowded park over there, and definitely a "must do" attraction every time I visit MK. As for Aunt Polly's, I hope they reconsider opening it again, even if just during the busier seasons.

 

[draybook]

The only thing I don't like about pillaging the picnic area is that it's the only place to sit in the MK these days that doesn't involve being in an active attraction. But it would be nice to turn LS into an actual "land".

 

[copcarguyp71]

Fill in ROA with the exception of a small moat around TSI and then you have tons of room for expansion. I, myself am not a fan of TSI but was nearly sacked when I mentioned the thought of plowing it under so by leaving a buffer of some sort it could still be left but ROA and the paddle boat ride take up a huge tract of real estate that could be used.

 

[GoochDSA]

And as long as we're talking Liberty Square... everyone know what that brown streak of the pavement down the middle of the paths in the aerial photo above is supposed to represent?

Here's a hint: something you'd probably find gathered in the middle of actual 1700s streets.

(At least according to the orientation tour they give Magic Kingdom cast members)

It's the 1700s version of the sewer.

Our KttK guide also told us that, perhaps it's because there are no bathrooms in the official boundries of LS. When you gotta go, you gotta go. There is actually a bit of historic theming in LS that goes unnoticed.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

No! Madness says I !

LS is the prettiest land of all. So essentially WDW! It is unique to the MK. It's a nod to the bicentannial craze during WDW's conception. Hands off of Roy's legacy!
It has a great attraction roster too - Mansion, Liberty Belle, (Keelboats), HoP, (Diamond Horseshoe).

LS can be plussed indeed. They can begin by a restoration project. Return the Olde World Antique shop. The silver shop. The parfumerie. The Keelboats and Horseshoe attractions. Remove the cartoon Keelboats building addition that ruins the view from the river and TSI. Restore the proper railing on TSI. Return proper pavement. Return the second steamboat, or even better replace it with something unique, like DL's Columbia. That would be a start.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

And as long as we're talking Liberty Square... everyone know what that brown streak of the pavement down the middle of the paths in the aerial photo above is supposed to represent?

Here's a hint: something you'd probably find gathered in the middle of actual 1700s streets.

(At least according to the orientation tour they give Magic Kingdom cast members)

At the CM Orientation Tour, do they also point out the declining by degrees of the pavement? Nothing in WDW, not even a stream of excrement (That's what it represents! Really!) escapes cheapineering. Once it was individual stone in relief, now it is even ground brown paint. (Gotta think about them strollers, all heavy from that eleven year old in it!) TDO manages to even make crap look, well, crap.

I'll hand 'em the HoP marquee addition, which is a matter of aesthetical preference (but not the uniform white paint, which usurpes the building next to the HoP into it). For our topic though, note the difference in the brown streak in the middle. Top pic by yours truly btw:

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Nobody counts Liberty Square as a true "land" these days. It's just a junction point to get from Fantasyland to Frontierland. Thus, the Haunted Mansion technically does not reside in a land...it's kind of just off by itself doing its own thing.

Then I found this article over at Imaginerding. Apparently, the original concept for Liberty Square was going to have it more akin to its New Orleans counterpart over at Disneyland. You would actually be in the center of a bustling New England town, circa 1776.

However....budgets got in the way, and as a result a lot of what was planned never made it. The only piece added to LS was Liberty Square Market/Glorified Picnic Area.

I say...

1. Start plussing the little backside bit of LS that nobody pays attention to. If you're walking to Adventureland from the Hub...look to your right and you will see a smaller bridge going to the backside. There's nothing much there right now...just the back entrance to the Christmas Shop and the Silhouette portrait studio. Plus the hell out of it...make it something worth something.

2. Re-theme the Diamond Horseshoe to Liberty Square. Disney considers DH to be Liberty Square real estate. In the words of Jean-Luc Picard, "MAKE IT SO!"

3. Tear down Liberty Square Market/Glorified Picnic Area. Then build what was planned to make it a more immersive environment.

Photo lovingly borrowed/blatantly ripped off from George Taylor at Imaginerding.



I also wouldn't mind Hall of Presidents being gutted and turned something substantial (43 Presidents, but only three speak...the other just nod heads, get fidgety in their seats, or whisper to each other)....but a lack of space makes that impossible without killing Peter Pan or Philharmagic.

Actually, now that I have recovered from my initial shock - not least of which owing to the proposal to close the HoP - I think points 1, 2, and 3 make sense. The backside is sort of underutilised as a Tiara m&g, the seating area is exceedingly ugly, and the Horseshoe is empty and something is better than nothing (well, not with this sorry lot, they'll turn it into Great Moments with Woody's Farts).

But I for one do consider LS a proper land! And maybe the best one in all of the MK too.

 

[Csmith041177]

I for one love Liberty Square, and Haunted Mansion is one of my all time favorite attractions. However, I would love to see their be "more" there. It would take some planning though given the land restrictions.

 

[D23]

I AGREE!!!!! We need Tom Sawyer island back! The Mike fink Keel boats, and utilize great things from past Disney gems like Pollyanna, Summer Magic, Johnny Tremain, Swamp Fox and more!!!! Please make it happen.

Okay I know I am wishing. But one can.

 

[Fable McCloud]

I AGREE!!!!! We need Tom Sawyer island back! The Mike fink Keel boats, and utilize great things from past Disney gems like Pollyanna, Summer Magic, Johnny Tremain, Swamp Fox and more!!!! Please make it happen.

It makes me sad to realize how many kids don't know the glory of Zorro or Davy Crockett. Kids are uncultured these days.

 

[75disney]

It makes me sad to realize how many kids don't know the glory of Zorro or Davy Crockett. Kids are uncultured these days.

My kids and I watch some of these old classics every summer. They love Swiss Family (that is why they take so long to do the treehouse at MK), Pollyanna, and the original Parent Trap.

As for Liberty Square, couldn't they take some attraction ideas from the shelved American history park that they once considered building?

 

[Marijil]

Aunt Polly's..the PBJ version not the vending machine version was awesome..some of my best childhood Disney memories

 

[D23]

Yes so many kids don't know the Disney classics. I am a father of 4 kids all 8 and under so I made sure to show them all the classics. So far they enjoy them so it makes me happy!!!!

Recently I have shown my kids Pollyanna, Summer Magic, Happiest Millionaire, Swiss Family, Old Yeller and Apple Dumpling Gang.

I have many many more to show them too. LOL.

I listen to all the classics while at work all day on my flash player on my website. Passes the day away.

But back to Liberty Square... I LOVE IT!!!! My wife hates that I am sad the store is closing there. She said eh.

 

[Timon]

The small NOS streets running behind the block would have seating and quiet areas. The current Market could get a real store to work out of. The Mystery Block could have a Craftsman like a "wood carver" a true lost art. The second floor could connect to Columbia Harbor House for seating or better yet a Club 33 style restaurant. Love to see something cool like a secret Smuggler's tunnel to the Steamboat dock 50' away.

 

[jdmdisney99]

YES

 

[Victor Kelly]

Level HoP. When they started having anyone but Lincoln speak I lost interest. I could care less about modern politicians, I prefer it being a learning experience like it used to be. That being said, I think a Headless Horseman type ride would be interesting. After all early America was deeply influenced by folklore and magic and religion. Re-theme to the movie Sleepy Hollow. Demo and reconstruct the buildings to a more realistic dirty Colonial look.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I could care less about modern politicians, I prefer it being a learning experience like it used to be.

How is it not now? The current President doesn't speak until the end, and gives a fairly inoffensive speach, written by Disney and not the politician, that is deisgned to be said by anyone (America is good if we do good, and so on...). Do the 20 min prior have no educational value?

 

[jdmdisney99]

I actually love HoP and it should stay, and then the land should expand past HM into a Sleepy Hollow area.

 

[Victor Kelly]

the area needs something new. HoP is old, not even vaguely entertaining, hardly draws packed house crowds unless it is hot as hot can be. And there is American Adventure in Epcot that while not centering on the Presidents, more accurately depicts American culture and history.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Aside from politics, the area needs something new. HoP is old, not even vaguely entertaining, hardly draws packed house crowds unless it is hot as hot can be. And there is American Adventure in Epcot that while not centering on the Presidents, more accurately depicts American culture and history.

While American Adventure is without question a better attraction, I don't think it would be wise to loose a large capacity show like HoP that, as you say, gives guests an extened break from the heat.

I'd also prefer not to loose another WDW original/exclusive in the name of another character tie in or something else.